Latch release means and the like



June 18, 1968 H. J. sHoPsKY 3,388,602

LATCH RELEASE MEANS AND THE LIKE INVENTOR, HARVEY J. SHOPSKY BY Mwc HIS ATTORNEYS June 13, 1968 H. J. sHoPsKY 3,388,602

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HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,388,602 LATCH RELEASE MEANS AND THE LIKE Harvey J. Shopsky, Latrobe, Pa., assignor tu Robertshaw Controls Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 15, 1966, Ser. No. 557,675 18 Claims. (Cl. 74-3.5)

ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to latching means for a onoff member of a movable program member wherein the on-off member is axially movable relative to a frame means carrying the rotatable program member and when moved to its on position, a pair of latch members cooperate together to hold the on-off member in its on position to actuate a timer motor for continuously moving the program member as long as the on-off" member is in its on position whereby the on-off member can be moved to its off position by either manually moving the on-off member to its off position to unlatch the latch members thereof or by having one of the latch members automatically moved to its off position by an actuator controlled by the program member at its end of cycle position so that suitable spring means cooperates with the on-off member to move it to its oit position.

This invention relates to an improved latch release mechanism for an on-off member of a domestic appliance or the like.

It is well known that the program controlling means for controlling the cycles of operation of a domestic appliance or the like, such as an automatic clothes washing machine or the like, is adapted to be initially turned on by movement of an on-olf member from its off position to its on position whereby suitable latch means holds the on-off member in its on position so that the program controlling means will control the operation of the particular apparatus. At the termination of the particular cycle of operation of the apparatus, the on-off member is adapted to be automatically returned to its ot position by suitable means operating the latch release mechanism to completely turn olf the apparatus. In addition, the on-off member is so constructed and arranged that the same is adapted to be manually returned to its off position any time during and at the termination of the cycle of operation of the apparatus. Further, the on-olf member can sometimes be utilized to manually select a particular program or part of a program of the operation of the appliance.

Accordingly, it is a feature of this invention to provide an improved latching and latch release mechanism for such an on-off member or the like.

However, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention are not to be limited to any particular apparatus or program means as the same have a wide variety of uses.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved latching mechanism for an on-olf member or the like, the latching and latch release `mechanism of this invention having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE l is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the improved program means of this invention,

ICC

FIGURE 1 illustrating the on-off member disposed in its olf position.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates the on-off member in its on position.

FIGURE 3 is a View similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrates various parts in elevation.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional View of certain latching parts of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 and illustrates the latching mechanism in another operating position thereof.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 in reduced size and illustrates the latching mechanism in its unlatched position.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being utilized in connection with a fluidic program control system, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof with other types of program means or the like.

Therefore, this invention is not to\ be limited to only the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the Wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 1-3, an appliance program controlling means is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and incorporates the latching means of this invention in a manner hereinafter described.

The program means 10 includes a frame means 11 carrying a reading head 12 provided with a tape-like member 13 secured to the iiat surface 14 thereof, the reading head 12 having a plurality of ports formed therein and interconnected together by grooves formed in the surface 14 to be subsequently covered by the tape 13 so that suitable `apertures passing through the tape 13 will permit various ports of the reading head 12 to be interconnected together by a program member 15.

In particular, the tape means 13 functions in the same manner as the reading head tape means disclosed and claimed in the copending patent application, Ser. No. 262,885, filed Mar. 5, 1963, now Patent No. 3,284,589 and does not form a part of this invention except to illustrate one type of program means that can be controlled by the latch means of this invention.

The program member 15 includes a rigid backing member 116 carrying a iiexible reading tape 17 having a plurality of channels formed therein for interconnecting together various ports of the reading head 12 when a particular channel is aligned to bridge two or more aperture means in the tape 13. In this manner, movement of the program tape 17, by movement of the backing member 15, relative to the reading head 12 permits the program means 10 to sequentially interconnect together a iluidic source, such `as the inlet of a vacuum pump, with various fluidic operated actuators, such as vacuum operated actuators, to control electrical switches, clutches and the like of the particular appliance utilizing the program means 10 of this invention.

Also, aperture means pass through the reading tape 17 in a predetermined pattern whereby when a particular aperture means is aligned with a port in the reading head 12 leading to an actuator, air is adapted to pass through a porous compressible iilter material 18 disposed between the backing member 16 and the reading sheet 17 into the actuator to deactuate the same.

A bearing sleeve 19 is rotatably mounted in an aperture 20 of the frame means 11 and in a bore 21 of the reading head 12, the sleeve 19 having an outer flange 22 to prevent axial movement of the sleeve 19 in a vertically upward direction in FIGURE 1 and is prevented from moving vertically downwardly in FIGURE 1 by any suitable means, such as split retaining rings (not shown) disposed on the other side of the frame means 11 opposite to the flange 22 or above the end 23 of the reading head 12.

An on-olf member or shaft 24 of this invention is telescopically received in the bore 25 passing through the sleeve 19 whereby the on-off shaft 24 is adapted to move axially relative thereto between its n and Off position for a purpose hereinafter described.

However, the sleeve 19 has a pair of opposed elongated slots 26 passing through the side wall thereof and through which a drive pin 27 projects, the drive pin 27 passing through a suitable aperture in the on-olf shaft 24 and having the opposed ends thereof received in splined connection means of the backing member 16 whereby rotational movement of the program member 15 in a manner hereinafter described causes the shaft 24 and sleeve 19 to rotate in unison therewith while the slots 26 permit the shaft 24 to be axially movable relative to the sleeve 19 and program member 15 for a purpose hereinafter described within the limits of the slots 26.

The sleeve 19 and shaft 24 projects centrally through the program member 15 to rotatably mount the program member 15 to the reading head 12. The backing member 16 of the program member 15 has gear teeth 28 formed on the outer periphery thereof.

The ring gear means 28 of the program member 15 is disposed in meshing relation with a pinion gear 29 being interconnected to the drive shaft of the timer motor 30 by over-run clutch means whereby the program member 15 can be selectively rotated by the shaft 24 in a manner hereinafter described to position the program member 15 in the desired position regardless of whether the timer motor 30 is energized or deenergized.

The on-olf member or shaft 24 carries a selector knob 31 on one end 32 thereof and a disc member 33 on the other end 34 thereof, the disc member 33 having a peripheral groove 35 formed therein and receiving an end 36 of a flexible switch blade 37 mounted to an insulated platform means 38 of the frame means 11.

The insulated plate means 38 also carries another switch blade 39 normally disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1, the switch blades 37 and 39 respectively carrying cooperating electrical contacts 4l) and 41 to form an electrical switch means 42.

In particular, when the contacts 40 and 41 are placed in electrical contact with each other in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2 by the on-olf member or shaft 24 being moved to the on position of FIGURE 2 in a manner hereinafter described, the closed switch means 42 energizes the timer motor 30 whereby the timer motor 30 will rotate the program means 15 relative to the reading head 12 to control the cycle of operation of the particular appliance utilizing the program means 1 of this invention.

A iirst latch member 48 has a pair of spaced-like legs 49 respectively having ends 50 received in recess means 51 formed in the rear surface 52 of the reading head 12 to pivotally mount the latch member 58 thereto, the legs 49 respectively having slot means 53 passing therethrough and receiving tang means 54 fastened to the reading head 12 by suitable fastening means 55 whereby the tang means 54 hold the ends 50 of the legs 49 in the recess means 51 while permitting pivotal movement of the latch member 48 relative thereto for a purpose hereinafter described.

The first latch member 48 has a latching tang or end 56 adapted to cooperate with a second latching member or sleeve 57 carried on the on-olf shaft 24 in a manner hereinafter described.

The latch member 48 has another leg 57' extending rearwardly therefrom and is provided with a keyhole-type slot 58 to permit the same to be interconnected to a rivet 4 shaped actuating post 59 of a vacuum operated actuator 60.

The actuator 60 comprises a flexible diaphragm 61 having its inner periphery 62 sealed to the actuating post means 59 and its outer periphery 63 fastened over an annular wall 64 projecting from the rear 52 of the reading head means 12 whereby the flexible diaphragm 61 cooperates with the rear surface 52 of the reading head 12 to define a chamber 65. Thus, when a vacuum is imposed in the chamber 65, such as by the program means 15 interconnecting a vacuum port of the reading head 12 to the chamber 65 by the aforementioned groove and port covered plate means of the copending patent application, Ser. No. 262,885, filed Mar. 5, 1963, the chamber 65 is evacuated whereby the diaphragm 61 is pulled downwardly in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 to cause the latch member 48 to pivot to its unlatching position as illustrated in FIGURE l. When the atmosphere is permitted to return to the chamber A65, in the manner previously described, the latch member 48 is adapted to pivot to its latching position illustrated in FIGURE 2 by the force of a compression spring 66 disposed between the leg 57 of the latch member 48 and the reading head 12, the spring 66 only being adapted to pivot the latch member 48 to its latching position illustrated in FIGURE 2 when the on-olf shaft 24 is moved to its on position of FIG- URE 2 in a manner hereinafter described.

If desired, a vacuum dump valve means 67 can be opel'- ated by the latch member 48 of this invention.

As illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, the vacuum dump valve means 67 comprises a chamber 68 formed in the reading head means 12 and being interconnected to the chambers of various vacuum operated actuators by the aforementioned port and groove means in the surface 14 of the reading head 12 while the other end of the chamber 68 is adapted to be interconnected to the atmosphere by a valve seat 69. The valve seat 69 is adapted to be closed by a valve member 70 normally urged to a closed position by a compression spring 71. An actuator 72 projects through the valve seat 69 and is operatively interconnected to the Valve member 70 while having its upper end adapted to about an adjusting screw 73 carried by the leg 57 of the latch member 48.

Thus, it can be seen that when the latch member 48 is disposed in its latching position of FIGURE 2, the valve member 70 closes the valve seat 69 whereby the atmosphere is prevented from reaching the various vacuum operated actuators through the dump valve means 67. However, when the latch member 48 is disposed in its unlatched position of FIGURE 1, the latch member 48 holds the valve member 70 away from the valve seat 69 so that the chambers of any vacuum operated actuators interconnected to the dump valve means 67 will be deactuated by the opened valve means 67 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The second latch member or sleeve 57 is best illustrated in FIGURES 4-6 and has an outer cylindrical portion 74 joined `to a frusto-conical camming portion 75, the camming portion 75 terminating at the end 76 thereof. The sleeve 57 is adapted to be axially movable with the onolf shaft 24 while being interconnected thereto with a lost motion means.

In particular, the on-off shaft 24 has a pair of spaced shoulder means 77 and 78 while the latch sleeve 57 carries a pair of abutment means 79 and 80 which are not only cooperable with the shoulder means 77 and 78 of the onotf shaft 24 in a manner hereinafter desscribed, but also interconnect the sleeve 57 to the on-off shaft 24 in any suitable manner.

A disc-like member 81 is telescoped over the shaft 24 and is urged into engagement with the abutment means 79 of the latch member 57 by a compression spring 82 disposed between the disc-like member 81 and the reading head 12 whereby the compression spring 82 normally tends to move the latch member 74 vertically upwardly to engage the abutment means 79 thereof against the shoulder means 77 of the shaft 24 and carry the shaft 24 upwardly to its olf position as illustrated in FIGURE 6.

The on-off member or shaft 24 has a recess 83 formed in the outer periphery thereof below the disc member 33 and above the latch member 57, the recess 83 defining a truste-conical cam surface 84 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The operation of the control means of this invention will now be described.

With the on-olf member or shaft 24 disposed in its olf position as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 6, it can be seen that the shaft 24 has been axially moved upwardly relative to the frame means 11 such a distance that the same has carried the spring switch blade 37 therewith to separate the contacts 40 from the contacts 41 whereby the opened switch means 42 prevents the timer motor 3o from operating. In addition, the compression spring 82 ymaintains the shaft 24 in its off position as illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 6 while the tang end 56 of the latch member 48 is held outwardly by the cylindrical portion 74 of the latch sleeve 57 to hold the latch member 48 in its unl latched position and maintain the dump valve means 6'7 in its opened position.

With the control shaft 24 in its off position, it can be seen that the operator can rotate the shaft 24 by means of the selector means 31 to position the program member in any desired rotational position relative to the reading head 12 to select a desired program to be controlled by the control means 10 when the same is turned on.

In particular, when the operator desires to turn on the program means 10, the operator pulls outwardly on the control knob 31 to axially move the on-off member 24 vertically downwardly from the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2. As the on-off member 24 is being moved from the position illustrated in FIGURE l to the position illustrated in FIG- URE 2, the shoulder 77 of the shaft 24 engages the abutment means 79 of the latch release sleeve 57 to axially move the sleeve 57 therewith in opposition to the force of the compression spring 82 whereby when the shaft 24 has been pulled outwardly to the position illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 4, the compression spring 66 has pivoted the latch member 48 in a clockwise direction to permit the tang end 56 thereof to extend over the end 76 of the latch member 57 to hold the same in its latching position in opposition to the force of the compression spring 82 and to engage the cam surface 34 of the shaft 24. The shaft 24 is further moved outwardly to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 whereby the end 56 is disposed fully over the end 76 of the latch release member 57. In this manner, the force of the compression spring 66 now maintains the on-olf member or shaft 24 in its on position, the shaft 24 in its on position holding thecontact 40 against the contact 41 to energize the timer motor 30 whereby the timer motor begins to rotate the program member 15 relative to the reading head 12 to control the cycle of operation of the particular apparatus utilizing the control means 10 of this invention.

In addition, with the latch member 48 in its latching position, the vacuum dump valve means 67 is in its closed position as illustrated in FIGURE 2.

As the program member 15 rotates relative to the reading head 12, the drive pin 27 causes like rotation of the sleeve 19 and on-off member 24 relative to the frame means 11. However, the annular groove 35 and the disc member 33 maintain the contact 40 in electrical contact with the contact 41 even though the disc member 33 is rotating relative to the end 36 of the spring blade 37.

Since the on-off shaft 24 is adapted to rotate with the program member 1S relative to the latch release sleeve 57, no torque is provided by the spring 82 against such rotational movement of the on-off member 24 whereby the spring 82 does not provide any retarding force to rotational movement of the program member 15 by the timer motor 30.

The program member 1S is continuously rotated by the .timer motor 30 in the above manner until the same is manually turned off by the on-off member 24 any time during the cycle of operation or at the end thereof, or the on-olf member 24 is moved to its off position automatically when the program member 15 reaches the end of its particular cycle.

For example, should the operator desire to manually turn olf the control means 10 of this invention, the operator pushes in on the control knob 31 to axially move the on-off member 24 from the position illustrated in FIG- URE 4 toward the position illustrated in FIGURE 5 whereby it can be seen that the cam surface 84 of the shaft 24 aligns the tang end 56 of the latch member 48 with the cam surface 75 of the latch release means 57. At this time the shoulder 78 of the on-olf shaft 24 engages against the abutment means 80 of the latch release means 57 to carry the latch release means 57 therewith to force the cam surface 75 of the latch member 57 into camming engagement with the tang end 56 of the latch member 4S in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5.

The force of the compression spring 82 has been so selected in relation to the for-ce of the compression spring 66 that when the shaft 24 and member 57 have been manually moved to the position illustrated in FIGURE 5, the force of the compression spring 82 is now sufficient, without further manual movement of the shaft 24 toward its off position, to move the shaft 24 and latch member 57 upwardly to its off position of FIGURE 1 while camming the latch member 48 toward its off position until the same reaches the position illustrated in FIGURE 6 whereby the tang end 56 of the latch member 48y is now disposed against the cylindrical surface 74 of the latch member 57 and is held in this unlatched position. Of course, the operator can add his force in moving the shaft to its completely off position, if desired.

With the on-off shaft 24 now moved to its olf position as illustrated in FIGURES l and 6, it can be seen that the electrical switch means 42 is opened to terminate the `operation of the timer motor 30l and, thus, rotational movement of the program member 15 while the latch member 48 opens the vacuum dump valve means 67. If desired, the dump valve means can be interconnected to the chamber 65 of the actuator 69 to deactuate the same at this time even though the actuator 6) will be held in the position of FIGURE l by the compression spring 82.

Thus, the program means 10 can be manually turned off at the end of the cycle of operation thereof or any time during the particular cycle of operation thereof.

However, should it be desired that the program member 15 will automatically turn off the control means 10 when the program member 15 has reached its end of cycle position, the program member 1S can be so constructed and arranged that the same interconnects a vacuum port with the chamber 65 of the actuator 66 when the program member 1S has reached its end of cycle position. With a vacuum now imposed in the chamber 65 of the actuator 60, the flexible diaphragm 61 is drawn downwardly from the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 to the position illustrated in FIGURE l whereby such counterclockwise pivoting of the latch member 48 in opposition to the force of the compression spring 66 moves the tang end 56 of the latch member 48 out of the recess 83 of the on-oft member 24 whereby the force of the compression spring 82 will move the latch member 57 and shaft 24 in the manner previously described, to the olf position illustrated in FIGURE 1, the force of the compression spring 82 assisting the action of the actuator 6i) to move the latch member 48 to its -unlatching position when the cam surface 75 of the latch member 57 begins engaging the tang end 56 of the latch member 48.

Such inward and outward movement of the on-off member 24 is limited by the ends of the slots 26 in the sleeve 19 so that no adverse forces are imposed on the various springs and parts of the control means 10.

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention provides an improved latch means for an oneif member or the like whether such on-off" member is utilized with the particular control means 1t) of this invention or other desired control means.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a frame means, an on-off member carried by said frame means and movable between an on position and an "off position thereof, a first latch member movably mounted to said frame means and movable between a latching position and an unlatching posi tion, a second latch member movably carried by said on-off member and movable between a latching position and an unlatching position thereof, said latch members being operatively moved to their latching positions when said on-off member is moved to its on position to cooperate together to latch said on-off member in its on position, and means to operatively move said latch members to their unlatching positions so that said on-oif member can move to its off position.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said last-named means includes said on-off member when the same is manually moved toward its oli position.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said last-named means comprises an actuator which when actuated causes said latch members to operatively move to their unlatching positions.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 1 and including spring means normally tending to move said second latch member to its unlatching position.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said onotf member comprises a shaft rotatably mounted to said frame means and being axially movable relative to said frame means between its on position and its off position.

`6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said second latch member comprises a sleeve telescopically disposed on said shaft.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said sleeve is adapted to be axially movable with said shaft while being non-rotatable therewith.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said spring means is disposed between said frame means and said sleeve to tend to normally urge said sleeve to its unlatching position.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said shaft has shoulder means and said sleeve has abutment means for engaging said shoulder means and carrying said shaft therewith as said spring means moves said sleeve to its unlatching position whereby said shaft is moved to its off position by said spring means.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said shaft is adapted to be manually moved from its off position to its on7 position and has said shoulder means abut said abutment means of said sleeve to carry said sleeve to its latching position in conjunction with the force of said spring means.

11. A combination as set forth in claim 16 and including second spring means normally tending to move said first latch member to its latching position whereby when said sleeve is moved to its latching position by manual movement of said shaft from its olf position to its on position, said second spring means moves said rst latch member to its latching position to latch with said sleeve and hold said shaft in its on position by iolding said sleeve in its latching position in opposition to the force of said first-named spring means.

12. A combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said shoulder means includes second shoulder means for abutting said abutment means including second abutment means of said sleeve and carrying said sleeve therewith from its latching position toward its unlatching position as said shaft is manually moved from its on position toward its oif position to force said first latch member from its latching position toward its unlatching position in opposition to said second spring means.

13. A combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said sleeve has an end engaged by said first latch member to hold said sleeve in its latching position, said sleeve having a cam surface adjacent said end thereof for camming said first latch member toward its unlatcliing position.

14. A combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein said shaft has a cam surface engaged by said first latch member when said first latch member is in its latching position whereby said first latch member extends over the end of said sleeve and said shaft is held in its on position.

1S. A combination as set forth in claim 14 wherein said cam surface of said shaft cams said first latch member onto said cam surface of said sleeve when said shaft is manually moved from its on position toward its off position whereby the force of said first-named spring means is greater than the force of said second spring means and said sleeve cams said iirst latch member to its unlatching position while carrying said shaft to its off position.

1e. A combination as set forth in claim 1 and including a program mem-oer movably mounted to said frame means, and actuator means for moving said program member to control the program when said actuator is turned on, said ciroi'f member energizing said actuator means when moved to its on position and deenergizing said actuator means when moved to its off position, said on-off member being moved in unison with said program member, said second latch member being adapted to move with said on-off member as said onoff member moves between its on and off positions while not moving with said on-off member as said on-olf member moves in unison with said program member.

17. A combination as set forth in claim 16 and including a second actuator for moving said first latch member to its unlatching position, said second actuator being controlled by said program member.

13. A combination as set forth in claim 17 and including spring means for moving said second latch member to its unlatching position and said on-off member to its oit position when said second actuator is actuated.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 870,404 11/1907 Wood 74-3.5 X 2,875,616 3/1959 Marlis M 74-2 MILTON KAUFMAN, Prima/y Examiner. 

